Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

Clear filters

10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 471480

EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed SCOPS's finding that the Petitioner did not meet the original contributions criterion.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

View full reasoning +
AAO affirmed SCOPS's finding that the Petitioner did not meet the original contributions criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_03_B2203; source_row=44569
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingNot established

Case facts

Business / ManagementManager

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging the work of others

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO affirmed SCOPS's finding that the Petitioner did not meet the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
AAO affirmed SCOPS's finding that the Petitioner did not meet the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_03_B2203; source_row=44568
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO held that merely working in an important field is insufficient for national importance, and a national shortage of physical therapists alone does not establish national importance of the endeavor under Dhanasar. DOL addresses U.S. worker shortages through the labor certification process.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO held that merely working in an important field is insufficient for national importance, and a national shortage of physical therapists alone does not establish national importance of the endeavor under Dhanasar. DOL addresses U.S. worker shortages through the labor certification process.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_03_B5203; source_row=44573
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Finance

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the potential prospective impact of his proposed endeavor stands to offer broader implications in his field or generate substantial positive economic effects, and the motion merely reargued previously considered issues.

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

View full reasoning +
AAO found the Petitioner did not demonstrate that the potential prospective impact of his proposed endeavor stands to offer broader implications in his field or generate substantial positive economic effects, and the motion merely reargued previously considered issues.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_01_B5203; source_row=44560
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI2,023 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

SCOPS found and AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the judging criterion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

View full reasoning +
SCOPS found and AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the judging criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=44556
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI2,023 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

SCOPS found and AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the scholarly articles criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

View full reasoning +
SCOPS found and AAO agreed that the Petitioner met the scholarly articles criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=44557
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI2,023 papers

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO found that expert letters explained significance beyond mere background use, citation data showed one 2023 paper received 207 citations versus a field average of 1.61, and acceptance by five top-rated conferences further demonstrated major importance. Contrary to SCOPS, the evidence established that the Petitioner's work served as the basis for others' research, not merely background information.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

View full reasoning +
AAO found that expert letters explained significance beyond mere background use, citation data showed one 2023 paper received 207 citations versus a field average of 1.61, and acceptance by five top-rated conferences further demonstrated major importance. Contrary to SCOPS, the evidence established that the Petitioner's work served as the basis for others' research, not merely background information.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_01_B2203; source_row=44558
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Well positioned

well-positioned to advance the proposed endeavor

What the decision said

AAO noted that the Petitioner's knowledge, skills, and abilities pertain to the second prong of Dhanasar rather than national importance, but did not separately adjudicate this prong given the procedural posture of the motion.

Why this is useful

Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.

View full reasoning +
AAO noted that the Petitioner's knowledge, skills, and abilities pertain to the second prong of Dhanasar rather than national importance, but did not separately adjudicate this prong given the procedural posture of the motion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_03_B5203; source_row=44574
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

NIW · Waiver on balance

on balance, beneficial to the United States to waive the job offer requirement

What the decision said

This prong was not addressed in the motion decision.

Why this is useful

See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.

View full reasoning +
This prong was not addressed in the motion decision.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_03_B5203; source_row=44575
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleReservedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with distinguished reputation

What the decision said

AAO reserved this criterion because even if met, the Petitioner could not numerically meet the required three criteria given her failure on the membership criterion, making a ruling on this issue unnecessary.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

View full reasoning +
AAO reserved this criterion because even if met, the Petitioner could not numerically meet the required three criteria given her failure on the membership criterion, making a ruling on this issue unnecessary.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2025-05-06_02_B2203; source_row=44565
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
Back to assessment